Friction joint



Nov. 9, 1943. T. o. RUEB 2,334,039

FRICTION JOINT Filed Jan. 27, 1941 /j l f mln' l 'M1 ,W70/swig Patented Nov. 9, 1943 ,-UNITED STATES PATENT 7 not Delaware Theodore y0. Rueb,- Chicago, fIll., assignor to The' y j Sherman-Klove COgChicago', =Ill.,:a corporation Application January 27, 1s41',jseria1fNo. sienta 5 claims. (c1. s4-1.7)'.

While ,this invention may be adapted for-various uses, ,-it is particularly applicable to universal joints `such as commonly used for socket wrenches or other similar tools. Such universal joints have been in general Ause for many years andA therefore do not need to be particularly described.

As usually made, the principal elements forming the joints are freely movable with respect to each other, the joint providing a convenient means for transmitting the power at the desired angles. However, when these joints are used for Wrenches, it has been found desirable to provide more-or less friction in order to prevent the free movement of some of the parts with respect to the others, whereby the joint members or parts associated therewith may be temporarily held in predetermined position as for engaging the wrench with a nut in an inaccessible position.

It has heretofore been proposed to provide such friction means between the main parts of the joint as, for instance, between the fork members and the connecting block, but I have found that this is objectionable as the fork members are apt to spread during the use of the wrench. and such friction as originally provided, is not suflicient to satisfactorily hold the elements in the desired positions. Furthermore, grease or oil may readily enter the spaces between such members and thereby reduce or eliminate the effect cf the parts intended to produce friction.

The objects of this invention are to provide a. friction joint having novel means for producing the desired friction; to provide a joint having pivot pins, or rivets with spring or yielding means for maintaining tension between the pin and one of the parts pivotally mounted thereon; to provide a universal joint having pivot pins, or rivets fixed or rigidly secured to the forks or bifurcatedmernbers and pivotally supporting the connecting block with means for pressing the pin against the bore of the block and to provide such other advantages and novel features as will be described hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawingillustrating this invention, i

Fig. 1 is a side view of a universal joint embodying the same, shown as applied to a wrench bar, or the like;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the joint taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the spring.

The universal joint head or socket 5 is shown as being adapted to receive one end of a wrench Bil bar 6, and is bifurcated to :provide the u su'alforks or lugs 1,. The coacting jointhead `orfsocket 8 is shownas vbeing adapted to engage with a,nut or the like Vat lone end, and` is also lbifurcated atl the .opposite end. to provide Yfork .membersor lugs 9L These forks'are connected by means of the usual block III and pins or rivets II and I2 as shown. These pins or rivets have heads I3 and are tightly riveted in their respective forks so that they will be fixed therein and cannot turn.

In order to provide the desired or predetermined friction for the joint, my invention contemplates means for increasing the friction between the pins and the block or member which is rotatable with respect to the same. In the embodiment shown, each pin has a longitudinal slot I4, the bottom of which is preferably arcu ate as when formed by means of a suitable milling tool. Tension springs I5 are positioned in these slots and coact with the pins and the block in such a manner as to press these parts towards each other. In the particular arrangement shown, the springs l5 are bent to provide centra] humps or curved portions I6 which engage with the inner walls of the holes through the blocks as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The ends I8 of the spring engage with the bottoms Il of the grooves I4, the springs being flexed when inserted to provide the desired amount of tension and consequent friction between the coacting parts.

From this description, it will be apparent that the tension springs being interposed between the pins and the block will cause a large area of the surface of the pins to be pressed against the adjacent bores through the blocks, and thus create a substantial amount of friction necessary for the purposes described. Furthermore, the springs are substantially enclosed so that there is little possibility of the tension belng d1- minished or lostl on account of oil or grease entering the joint. It will also be noted that any spreading of the forks which may occur during the use of the joints, particularly when subjectedv to heavy strains, will not affect the frictionprovided in the joint.

'While I have shown a preferred commercial form of' my invention, it is apparent that the same may be modified as by changing the shape or mounting of thesprings, or in other respects, in order to yadapt the same for different purposes or different forms of joints, and therefore I do not wish to be limited to the particuthem together Vto incrense the friction-between Y said parts. v Y v 2. In a friction joint, the combination oi' af secured to the ngers ofthe forked element, and

lspring means between the bore andthe 'pinto forked member, a pin extending throughfthe ,4

fork and rigidly secured therein',. ap block positioned in the fork and having a; boreengagm'.

said pin yhaving qaflongie closely with the pin, Y tudinal slot vin the periphery thereof which is shorter than the width of the block whereby the slot is covered by the spring positioned in the for the` purposes` described.

a. A joint or the character' sei forth compris'- ling 'a forkedelement, a block embraced by' said iorked'elexnent having arborev therethrough, al

pinj extending through said boreV and `rigidly borel fof Athe block, 'and a,V slot and pressed against' the bottom of the slot. and theiboreof: the block 'tive bore of urge the pin into increased frictional engagement with the bore which will tend toprevent rotation of the pin in the block.

`4. A universal joint comprising members, pins extending rigidly securedk therein, having bores receiving l spring means betweenv each pin and' its respec-V intermediate block therebetween.

5; In` aruniversai coupling, the combination of alpair of `opposed forked members, a connecting y forked members, pivot pins the respective forked' block betweenxsaid non-rotatably secured to members pivotally mounted in the` respective bores in the connecting block, and spring means interposed between each pin and vits respective bore in the `blockfnormuily `urging eachoi' said pins laterally against thevsurface of'its boreto maintain `'substantial friction therebetween.'- -v x* A y THEODORE o'. Rumi forked end through the forks and the respectivepins, and

the block `tending mpi-ess the piuY 'f andthe block together tofgincrease` the friction, 

